Bonhams 1793 : A rare San Francisco silver, gold, gold quartz and ivory presentation piece made for The Crown Point Gold and Silver Mining CompanyKoehler & Ritter (1867-1884) of San Francisco

A rare San Francisco silver, gold, gold quartz and ivory presentation piece made for The Crown Point Gold and Silver Mining Company. Koehler & Ritter (1867-1884) of San Francisco

18 Mar 2013 10:00 PDT San Francisco
Fine French Furniture & Decorative Arts
Back to auction 20902

A rare San Francisco silver, gold, gold quartz and ivory presentation piece made for The Crown Point Gold and Silver Mining Company
Koehler & Ritter (1867-1884) of San Francisco

Surmounted by carved ivory group of Ariadne and the panther after Johann Heinrich Dannecker (German, 1758 – 1841), raised on a rectangular silver plinth applied with grape vine garland centering on the obverse a gold quartz shield beneath gold shovel, pick and hammer and monogram GSJ and on the reverse a silver quartz shield inscribed Crown Point all supported by four standing California bears, stamped with makers symbol of a castle and words S.F. CAL. KOEHLER & RITTER S.F. CAL. height 6 3/4in 17cm); width 7 3/4in (20cm); depth 4 3/4in (12cm)

Sold for US$ 27,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

The original Ariadne and the panther after Johann Heinrich Dannecker was completed in 1824 and became one of the most popular sculptures in the 19th century and can be found modeled in many different mediums. The group is often found pared with the equally popular Una and the lion by John Bell

Crown Point Gold and Silver Mining Company

One of the richest mines of the Comstock Lode, the Crown Point Mine was staked in 1859 between the Belcher and Kentuck Mines and was 540' long. Superintendent John P. Jones' discovery of a silver bonanza at the 900' level in 1871 revived general interest in the Comstock after initial mining had exhausted surface deposits. In 1886 the Belcher and Crown Point Mines combined to mill low grade ore in the upper levels of both mines. In 1915 the Yellow Jacket, Crown Point, and Belcher mines consolidated into the Jacket-Crown Point-Belcher Mines Company; in 1920 they became part of the United Comstock Mining Company.

Koehler & Ritter

Koehler & Ritter were silversmiths and retailers of flatware and hollowware, but also jewelers who often incorporating gold quartz in their pieces, as well as diamonds and enamel. Gotthard Koehler (1823 - 1894) and Charles Ritter (1840 - ) came to San Francisco as German immigrants who joined a thriving community of German silversmiths and began their careers working under the leadership of Friedrich R. Reichel (c. 1824-1867). The two associates took over the firm in 1867 when Reichel died, advertising themselves as "Successors to F.R. Reichel" and continued working at the firm's original location at 620 Merchant Street.

In the 1870's their business flourished and they relocated to the more fashionable address of 26 Post Street. Unfortunately, business was not as successful in this location and they ended their partnership in 1885.

Literature:
Dorothy T. Rainwater, Judy Redfield, Encyclopedia of American silver manufacturers, 1998